New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (March 3, 2024)

In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in what’s new in J-pop.

With that in mind, here’s where you come in: I’m one person with one set of musical preferences, so please embed any other new J-pop tracks you’ve enjoyed in the comments so we can get a fuller spectrum each week.

*And just like I do with my reviews, I’ll wait until full versions of songs are available before posting them in this round-up. This will mostly apply to Johnny’s groups, who still limit the majority of their YouTube uploads to shorter, edited versions.

2023 Index

2024 Index: Dec 24 – Jan 6 // Jan 7 – Jan 13 // Jan 14 – Jan 20 // Jan 21 – Jan 27 // Jan 28 – Feb 3 // Feb 4 – Feb 10 // Feb 11 – Feb 17 // Feb 18 – Feb 24

THIS WEEK: Feb 25 – Mar 2

ASCA – Vivid World

Nice, anthemic energy.

ATEEZ – Not Okay

I wrote about this here. I didn’t think it was that great.

BE:FIRST – Set Sail

Definitely on the poppier side of their material. I find it funny that a card game of all things gets a tie-up song!

Blue Encount & Takashi Sorimachi – Poison

This is a cover of a 90’s rock song, which is probably why it appeals to me so much.

Exile The Second – We Are The Best

With that title and the group’s history, I was hoping for some big EDM knockout. Instead, this is an oddly theatrical ballad. It’s good for what it is, but I’m kind of confused by their direction.

Fantastics – Updated Life

I adore the drama this song is taken from. The song itself, not so much.

Fantastics x EPEX – Peppermint Yum

This unexpected J-pop/K-pop collaboration finally has a music video. The song has grown on me, but I still wish it was more Fantastics and less EPEX.

Girls2 – Magic

A catchy, K-pop style girl group track.

The Jet Boy Bangerz – Ten

Ugh. Make it stop. I’m so sick of these shouty songs.

NCT Wish – Wish

I wrote about the Korean version of this song here. I thought it was okay.

One N’ Only – Talkin’

Standard boy group fare.

Ryubi Miyase – Ms. Playlist (song of the week!)

I really enjoy Miyase in dramas, so I’ve been curious about his musical career. This is probably his strongest single yet and a nice direction for his sound.

UVERworld – Eye’s Sentry

A solid rock track, if that’s your thing.

This week’s old favorite:

Chisato Moritaka – Stress (1989)

I haven’t yet featured any songs from the 80’s, so why don’t we start out with this addictive classic? It’s one of my favorites.

Original Article